Master’s in Open-Pit and Underground Mining Machinery Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in open-pit and underground mining machinery engineering. 12 modules covering mining methods, drilling, loading, haulage, underground transport, auxiliary equipment, structures, powertrains, safety, maintenance and fleet economics, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Relate mining methods to equipment selection.
Select drilling, loading and haulage equipment.
Size open-pit and underground fleets.
Analyse mining equipment structures and powertrains.
Apply safety measures to mining equipment.
Plan the maintenance of large mining equipment.
Carry out the economic evaluation of fleet renewal.
Who it's for
- Mining equipment engineers
- Mine maintenance managers
- Mining fleet planners
- Mining machinery application engineers
- Mining operations supervisors
- Mining safety engineers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter metal mining
What you'll work with
- Real Decreto 863/1985 (Spanish General Regulation on Basic Mining Safety Rules)
- ISO 17757 (safety of autonomous machines in mining)
- ISO 21815-1 (collision avoidance for earth-moving machinery)
- UNE-EN 1889-1 (mobile machines for underground mining)
- UNE-EN 16228-1 (drilling and foundation equipment)
- ISO 3450 (braking systems of earth-moving machinery)
- Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 (emissions from non-road mobile machinery)
- Talpac
- Deswik
- Caterpillar Fleet Production and Cost
- Rockwell Arena
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Open-pit bench mining1.2Underground room-and-pillar mining1.3Sublevel and block caving1.4Influence of the mining method on the fleet1.5The mine value chain1.6Production scales and equipment size1.7Mining equipment manufacturers1.8Electrification and autonomy trends1.9Mining safety regulations1.10Case study: fleet of a copper mine
2.1Large-diameter rotary drills2.2Down-the-hole hammer drilling2.3Underground drilling jumbos2.4Fan (ring) production drilling2.5Bits, rods and consumables2.6Drilling productivity2.7Drilling automation2.8Drill maintenance2.9Drilling safety2.10Lab: performance of a rotary drill
3.1Electric rope shovels3.2Hydraulic mining excavators3.3Large wheel loaders3.4Bucket capacity and matching3.5Loading cycles and productivity3.6Electrical power supply for shovels3.7Bucket structures and wear3.8Maintenance of large excavators3.9Loading equipment selection3.10Practical exercise: loading equipment selection by production
4.1Mechanical and electric-drive mining trucks4.2Truck capacity and mass4.3Haul roads and their design4.4Rolling resistance on haul roads4.5Trolley assist systems4.6Haulage fleet management4.7Large mining tyres4.8Autonomous haulage in mines4.9Haulage costs per tonne4.10Case study: sizing a truck fleet
5.1Low-profile loaders5.2Low-profile trucks5.3Battery-powered underground equipment5.4Ventilation and diesel emissions5.5Drift dimensions and turning radii5.6Teleoperation of underground loaders5.7Conveyor and shaft transport5.8Ramp traffic5.9Underground productivity5.10Practical exercise: cycle of a low-profile loader
6.1High-power mining bulldozers6.2Motor graders for haul roads6.3Water trucks6.4Roof scaling equipment6.5Rock bolters for ground support6.6Mining shotcrete equipment6.7Underground service platforms6.8Lubrication and fuel equipment6.9Personnel transport vehicles6.10Case study: auxiliary fleet of an underground mine
7.1Extreme loads in mining service7.2Mining truck frames7.3Dump bodies and wear7.4Shovel and excavator structures7.5Wear-resistant steels and liners7.6Fatigue in mining structures7.7Weld repair at the mine7.8Non-destructive testing inspection7.9Structural service life7.10Lab: fatigue analysis of a dump body
8.1High-power diesel engines8.2Mechanical versus electric drive8.3Electric wheel motors8.4Dynamic braking and retarders8.5Cooling systems in mining8.6Underground emissions8.7Batteries for underground equipment8.8Trolley power supply8.9Fleet energy management8.10Practical exercise: powertrain comparison
9.1Critical risks of mining equipment9.2Proximity detection and collision avoidance9.3Visibility on large equipment9.4Fire protection9.5Access systems and ladders on large equipment9.6Stability on benches and ramps9.7Underground atmospheres and cabs9.8ISO mining safety standards9.9Investigation of mining incidents9.10Case study: collision prevention at a mine
10.1Maintenance strategies in mining10.2Major component replacement10.3Equipment condition monitoring10.4Mine workshops10.5Automatic centralised lubrication10.6Tyre management10.7Availability and utilisation10.8Manufacturer support contracts10.9Maintenance costs per hour10.10Practical exercise: component replacement plan for a truck
11.1Technical selection criteria11.2Ownership and operating cost11.3Expected productivity per unit11.4Simulation of mining operations11.5Life cycle and replacement11.6Residual value of equipment11.7Equipment financing11.8Decision risks11.9Communicating to management11.10Case study: haulage fleet renewal
12.1Selection of the mine and mining method12.2Production plan12.3Drilling equipment selection12.4Loading and haulage selection12.5Auxiliary equipment selection12.6Maintenance plan12.7Safety analysis12.8Economic evaluation of the fleet12.9Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so the programme can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Talpac, Deswik, Caterpillar Fleet Production and Cost and Rockwell Arena, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for mining fleet selection, simulation of loading and haulage cycles, and maintenance plans for mining equipment. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Real Decreto 863/1985, ISO 17757, ISO 21815-1, UNE-EN 1889-1, UNE-EN 16228-1, ISO 3450, Regulation (EU) 2016/1628.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Talpac, Deswik, Caterpillar Fleet Production and Cost and Rockwell Arena, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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